A North Carolina-based cotton bleaching company has recently agreed to pay nearly $1.5 million in a settlement for damages caused by a sulfuric acid spill at its Colrain, Massachusetts facility in 2019.
A complaint filed by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey accused Barnhardt Manufacturing Company of spilling approximately 53 and 60 gallons of concentrated sulfuric acid on Sept. 1, 2019, a Dec. 7 press release by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said. Several gallons allegedly spilled into the North River via a nearby brook, killing more than 270,000 fish, including thousands of state-listed rare species.
“The sulfuric acid spill caused by this company was devastating for the Colrain community and left long-lasting damage to the North River,” Healey said in the release. “Today’s settlements will hold Barnhardt accountable for harming this rich ecosystem and will provide significant funding to restore nearby natural resources and fisheries.”
The spill also damaged 14 acres of protected wetlands and 12 acres of designated habitat for the endangered Longnose Sucker fish and Ocellated Darner dragonfly, the release said.
The Barnhardt Manufacturing Company allegedly failed to comply with the General Duty Clause (GDC) of the Clean Air Act of 1990, which states that “owners and operators have a general duty and responsibility to prevent and mitigate the consequences of chemical accidents,” according to the EPA website. Companies have been required to follow GDC guidelines since November 1990.
As part of the settlement, Barnhardt will be required to have their bleaching and wastewater treatment facilities in Colrain comply with water pollution, hazard management and chemical accident prevention laws, the release said. The company will also be responsible for protecting natural resources at and around its facility, as well as providing additional training to prevent ecological disasters in the future.
“EPA's case complements the Commonwealth's by addressing the root cause of the spill,” EPA New England Acting Regional Administrator Deb Szaro said in the release. “It's critical that companies handling hazardous chemicals identify hazards and ensure that their facilities are designed and maintained safely. Carefully following the Clean Air Act's chemical accident prevention provisions helps prevent releases from occurring in the first place.”
